Build Your Future marble run 2
Date
16th Jan 2025
Employer
Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Grampian Construction Training (GCT), Mearns & Gill
School(s)
Cults, Harlaw, Hazlehead, Mackie, Mintlaw, Peterhead, Aboyne, Dyce, Inverurie, Oldmachar, Banchory, Ellon
Industry
Construction
Build Your Future marble run 2

Overview

Build your Future is an established annual event for S2 pupils, involving virtual in-school heats followed by an in-person final at Pittodrie Stadium. It is organised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Grampian Construction Training (GCT) and Mearns & Gill. The 2025 challenge was supported by various local employers and Robert Gordon University's Scott Sutherland School of Architecture.

A highlights video from the 2025 finals can be viewed here.

Results and effectiveness

Build Your Future provides participating pupils with exposure to the different roles and skills required by the construction industry through a series of fun, hands-on challenges.

Learning opportunities this year included:

  • Building a marble run (Barratt Homes)
  • Designing - and budgeting for - a new school (jmarchitects)
  • Participating in a court case surrounding a construction contract (Ledingham Chalmers)
  • Dam building and use of simulators (Leiths and SMT)
  • Identifying hazards and producing risk assessments (Safety Scotland)
  • Creating a city of the future (Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, Robert Gordon University)

Additional benefits

The event was carefully crafted by the organisers and supporting employers to optimise the benefits for pupils.

As well as gaining a genuine insight into various construction-related roles, the different activities encouraged the development of a wide range of skills. The court case activity, for example, demanded problem-solving, negotiation and teamwork. Fine motor skills and good levels of concentration were required for the simulator digger exercise.

Several of the activities in the final had a focus on building our communities of the future; this allowed the young people to express what they would like to see in their local area and think creatively about the associated construction-related challenges.

Teacher
/
Participating school

We take part every year because we really enjoy it, the young people enjoy getting out of school and taking part in a unique experience. This year we have two teams taking part as the interest in the challenges is growing each year.”

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